Scan barcode
123tezza's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A very easy to read, relatively fast-paced crime drama. The first book in a series, which I’d be interested in following. It’s a shame more care wasn’t taken over the publishing however, with several typos and the wrong name used a couple of times.
tessyoung's review against another edition
2.0
I was so disappointed with this new series from Rachel McLean. I'm not new to the author and had been looking forward to this series set close to the area I grew up in. However, I found it difficult to warm to this apparently no nonsense detective, probably something to do with the combination of peach skirt suits and court shoes with a sensible height heel - more practice manager than senior, supposedly hard nosed, detective. While this may have been used as a comment on the challenges and contradictions of gendered expectations within the police force, it wasn't. Likewise the setting was simply an opportunity to have bodies in inconvenient places and to trot out, and reinforce, well worn stereotypes about the rural/urban divide. The background of an archaeological dig had so much more potential within the narrative than simply two competing configurations of site and crime scene.
I'm not sure what happened at the end of the book. The narrative had built to a degree, then there was the reveal of the whodunit and that was it. Various strands of the investigation weren't really brought together. I know who did it and why, but only superficially. A lot of strands that would have provided a deeper insight simply weren't resolved. It was like the author ran out of time or space and just didn't tie up the loose ends. For a writer whose detective repeats the mantra of following the evidence to its conclusion, and to build a case, I would like the author to do the same with her narrative.
I'm not sure what happened at the end of the book. The narrative had built to a degree, then there was the reveal of the whodunit and that was it. Various strands of the investigation weren't really brought together. I know who did it and why, but only superficially. A lot of strands that would have provided a deeper insight simply weren't resolved. It was like the author ran out of time or space and just didn't tie up the loose ends. For a writer whose detective repeats the mantra of following the evidence to its conclusion, and to build a case, I would like the author to do the same with her narrative.
aaliyah_lomas15's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
beckym_reads's review
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
georgiekd's review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
kerensa2108's review against another edition
2.0
Pretty dreadful. Messy, badly written, bad grammar, unlikeable characters. The only positive thing I can think of is that it’s set in Corfe Castle, which is one if my favourite places (I grew up in Dorset). It felt like it had been written in a rush, and none of the themes had been properly developed. I won’t be reading anything else by this author!
mvptp's review against another edition
Not even Jan Cramer could make me enjoy this. I disliked every single character
ctrill56's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
musicallycharlottebooks's review against another edition
5.0
Beyond brilliant book! I can't wait to read the rest of the books in the Dorset Crime Series. I couldn't stop turning the pages! Highly highly recommend
slowloris's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
"ugh" - my review
As an archaeologist and alumni of Bournemouth University's Archaeology and Anthropology department that has lived in SW England their entire life- this book was incredibly rough to read.
Maybe some day I will elaborate as to why this book frustrated me on so many levels. But right now I feel like I might simply pass away if I tried to articulate my thoughts.
Aside from my quibbles about some of the subject matter. There was also a littering of simple contradictions. Including:
Page 1- '[Laila] should remember to lock her door every morning'
Page 165- '[Laila] wished her room had a lock'
Does this room have a lock or not? I fear I shall never know.
As an archaeologist and alumni of Bournemouth University's Archaeology and Anthropology department that has lived in SW England their entire life- this book was incredibly rough to read.
Maybe some day I will elaborate as to why this book frustrated me on so many levels. But right now I feel like I might simply pass away if I tried to articulate my thoughts.
Aside from my quibbles about some of the subject matter. There was also a littering of simple contradictions. Including:
Page 1- '[Laila] should remember to lock her door every morning'
Page 165- '[Laila] wished her room had a lock'
Does this room have a lock or not? I fear I shall never know.